Latest News

What can a small planting of milkweed and other natives really do for pollinators? More than you might think.

Hastings Environmental Protectors and FMR teamed up to create three new pollinator patches, helping to provide much-needed habitat for a variety of insect and pollinating species in the Vermillion and Mississippi river watersheds.

A trio of endangered species recently found at FMR conservation and restoration sites. Left to right: Loggerhead shrike, Blanchard's cricket frog and Henslow's sparrow. Photos by Terry Ross, Greg Schecter and Scott Krych.

Plant and animal populations decline for many reasons — habitat loss, climate change, pollution and other factors. The Endangered Species Act was enacted in 1973 to prevent the decline and extinction of at-risk species and aid their recovery. At FMR, one of the ways we can best benefit endangered species is through the enhancement or restoration of native habitat. FMR’s many restoration sites do just that, providing much-needed habitat for both common and endangered plants and animals.

While the Endangered Species Act has benefitted countless species, we’d like to think our restorations have as well. We've spotted three endangered species — loggerhead shrike, Blanchard's cricket frog and Henslow's sparrow — at our sites so far this year!

If approved, new land-use and development rules will better protect our local national park, the Twin Cities stretch of the Mississippi River from Dayton to Hastings. (Pictured above, the view from Pine Bend Scientific & Natural Area in Inver Grove Heights.)

At long last, state land-use and development rules for our local national park, the Twin Cities stretch of the Mississippi River from Dayton to Hastings, have cleared another hurdle and are on track to be formally adopted by years’ end! All told, over 300 pages of comments were submitted to the judge in charge of the final review of the new riverfront rules. Thanks to all the groups and individuals, including FMR River Protectors, who testified and submitted written comments. Your input will help to ensure the river is protected for generations to come!

According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the neighborhood surrounding Northern Metals, which is located along the North Minneapolis riverfront, has the highest levels of lead poisoning and asthma hospitalizations in the city.

FMR has been working with community members in North and Northeast Minneapolis to make their riverfront (the Above the Falls stretch) more accessible and appealing, but you can't enjoy new parks and trails when you're breathing in lead and other pollutants!

One of the suspected sources of lead and other air contaminants in the area is Northern Metals, a recycling company that operates a large metal shredder on the North riverfront.

Following a hectic end to the 2016 legislative session, the Minnesota Legislature adjourned with some important work left undone. Legislative efforts to pass a transportation bill and a bonding bill failed, while a surprise $100 million wording error in a tax bill earned that piece of legislation a pocket-veto from Governor Dayton.

While the Governor has expressed support for a special session, the likelihood of such a session remains uncertain. FMR and our allies strongly encourage Governor Dayton and state legislators to reconvene to complete their work, which includes much-needed funding to protect Minnesota's water resources.

Students from Elk River High School sample invertebrates from a stretch of the Mississippi River. These aquatic insects are excellent indicators of water quality.

With restoration work at the William H. Houlton Conservation Area slated to start this fall, students from the local Elk River Senior High School have begun to collect baseline data to help FMR track the restoration's impact on local amphibians, plants, trees and aquatic invertebrates.